Is There a Better Golf Destination in The UK Than This

By: Golfshake Editor | Tue 10 Dec 2024

Article & Images by Kevin Diss

When golfers start talking about the golf of their dreams, iconic courses come to mind, like the Old Course at St Andrews. The conversation often then drifts to historic links and Open Championship venues. When the deliberations move to inland delights, no one can resist the historic heathland courses of Surrey and Berkshire.

Sunningdale St Andrews

(Which Would You Choose?)

Inland golf lovers will choose heathland courses, especially those constructed at the turn of the 19th century; often described by many as the golden age for golf course architecture.

The terrain is perfect for inland golf offering architects a wonderful natural canvas to work with. The bonus of naturalised heather drifts bring beautiful colour to the landscape as the summer progresses and provide a tantalising attraction for golfers wanting to experience some of the very best golf on the planet.

Sunningdale

(5th Hole, Sunningdale New Course)

I was fortunate to be a guest of Exclusive Collection at the Royal Berkshire Hotel situated in the heart of heathland golf, less than five minutes from Sunningdale and 15 minutes from The Berkshire golf club. Set in extensive grounds it has a traditional atmosphere with first class accommodation and food.

Berkshire Hotel

I took advantage of the proximity to Sunningdale and some fine weather, enjoying an evening walk using the many public footpaths that cross this legendary course. If you are going to do the same make sure you have looked at a map as the very best views can be seen from the 6th tee on the New Course where there is a convenient seat to rest and enjoy the environment.

I was ready for a meal when I returned and "The Fork" restaurant at the hotel provided some excellent salmon prepared and presented to the very highest standard.

I was looking forward to my game at The Berkshire the following afternoon but could not resist another early walk before breakfast and I was treated with some glimpses of the wildlife that occupies the Sunningdale course before the golfers arrive.

Wildlife Sunningdale

(The Wildlife at Sunningdale)

The Berkshire has two courses, the Blue and the Red. The latter offers a unique test with 18 holes comprising an equal six-hole mix of par threes, fours and fives that fill a golfer with positive thoughts and optimism. Both courses are great fun, requiring decisions to be made from the tee and for approach shots. They are not long courses but are a strong challenge with sloping terrain and the wonderful heather that allows balls to be found with relative ease. Ease was not a word associated with the subsequent escape attempt!

I chose the Blue course as I had not played it for more than 30 years and I wanted to see the historical clubhouse again before they start a large renovation project.

The traditional feel of the club is wonderful and after enjoying a lunch on the terrace overlooking the opening holes, we finally finished commentating on the golfers playing the tough first hole and it was time for us to start the test!

The course was a delight, a great test of a player’s skills with many holes requiring positional play from the tee. It requires accuracy and guile rather than brute force. The pin positions on many holes define what was needed from the tee to set up an approach shot that can access the pin.

The Berkshire